All articles filed in July 2018

I’m just going to put this out there now- Petra is my all time favourite place to explore in the whole world! Aside from the insane beauty and history of the Rose City, the absolute freedom that you have to wander and explore the site makes this wonder of the world is like no other…

Aside from moving across the world, I only ever take carry on luggage when I travel. This is for two reasons, firstly, I really don’t need a lot of stuff and it makes travel so much easier when I take less, and secondly it saves money and the environment to have a lighter load on…

In the Turku Archipelago, a group of over 20,000 islands scattered off the south-west corner of Finland, you’ll find Vänö, a tiny island where life slows down and nature is paramount. Reached by a one hour ferry from the harbour town of Kasnäs, the island is the perfect escape to the simple pleasures of life. The…

Founded in the 13th century, Turku is the oldest city in Finland and in 1640 was home to Finland’s first university, The Royal Academy of Turku (now the University of Helsinki). While the large student population lends a youthful vibe to the city, most students are on summer holidays in the warmer months when the…

Summer days spent by Finnish rivers and lakes have made me reminisce about some beautiful inland swimming spots in Tasmania. Here are three of my favourite places for a non-ocean dip in my island home. 1. Lake Rhona Located in the South West National Park, Lake Rhona is one of the most stunning…

In Southern Finland, the beautiful Vantaa River meanders for 101 km from lake Erkylänjärvi in Hausjärvi to the Gulf of Finland at Vanhankaupunginselkä in Helsinki. My favourite thing about the river is the picturesque track that runs along both banks, perfect for cycling, running or walking. Along the way there are numerous places to swim, as well as some other attractions to…

Awhile ago I bought a box of oats for breakfasts, but they’ve been sitting in my cupboard for months as I rarely eat breakfast since lunch in Finland is often as early as 11am. As I hate waste, a perfect way to use up these oats is to make a classic Australian favourite- ANZAC biscuits. They’re…

The last two weekends have taken me to the beautiful green waterfront areas of Eira, Merisata and Kaivopuisto. This weekend past was the colourful Helsinki Pride, which started in Senate Square and finished with festivities throughout Kaivopuisto, while the weekend before was Finnish midsummer (Juhannus) with seaside bonfires to celebrate the longest day of the…